It takes approximately 48 hours for one of Hermès's artisans to create a Birkin bag, so to cope with demand despite the £6,000-plus price tags, the brand is planning to open two new factories in Eastern France.

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Approximately 400 new jobs will be made across new sites in Héricourt and in Montbéliard in 2015 or 2016. Both sites are within 20kms of the brand's existing factory in Seloncourt and will specialise in the craftsmanship of leather goods. Once the new artisans have been trained at a temporary workshop in Etupes, the new sites will absorb the staff at Seloncourt.

Hermès's policy is that only one artisan can produce one model from start to finish, be it the desirable Kelly (named after the late Grace Kelly), the Birkin (in honour of Jane Birkin) or the H-branded Constance. Each artisan has their own unique set of tools, which are never shared and which they take with them when they retire.